Event planned for Choctaw Nation book launch

Book launch happens on April 13 in NW Oklahoma City

A book launch will be held on April 13 for a 200-page collection of images, history and information about the Choctaw Nation.

It will be held for "Choctaw: A Cultural Awakening" from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 13 at Full Circle Bookstore on 1990 Northwest Expressway and is open to the public.

The event will highlight traditional Choctaw social dancing, lyrical chanting and flute music, and a rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" in the native language by Miss Choctaw Nation Cheyenne Murray.

Award-winning photographer David Fitzgerald spent nearly two years traveling and gathering images of Choctaws of all ages, historical artifacts, places of interest and activities. Included in the book is one of the last photographs of Choctaw original enrollee Georgia Mae Self.

Fitzgerald has received state and national acclaim for his photography. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the ArrellGibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book in 2010.

Accompanying the pictorial collection are Choctaw history and cultural information contributed by Tribal Archeologist Ian Thompson and Public Relations Executive Judy Allen. The reader is quickly brought up-to-date with an overview of the Choctaw people’s course from DeSoto’s first contact until today.

Thompson, as Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, archaeologist and coordinator for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), works to protect sacred and historic sites, researches Choctaw history and is dedicated to revitalizing the traditional culture. He learned many of the Choctaw art forms in his youth and instructs others in making bows, arrows, flint knapping, pottery, basketry and more.

Allen has worked with Thompson on many projects and has been committed to sharing the Choctaw culture throughout the world. She has been instrumental in the recognition of the Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I who were inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame last year. Allen was also named one of Oklahoma’s 50 Women Making a Difference in 2012.

Exploring through photos and stories by spiritual and historical leaders such as Virginia Espinoza, Eleanor Caldwell and Bill Coleman, “Choctaw: A Cultural Awakening” shows that members of the third-largest Indian Nation are from all walks of life, performing diverse jobs, and come from an amazing heritage.

Be awakened to the beauty of tribal art, the unique savor of Choctaw food and the excitement of learning about TushkaHommas – Red Warriors! Fitzgerald, Thompson and Allen will be available to share their experiences with visitors at the book launch April 13. A wealth of culture can be shared!Copies of the “Choctaw: A Cultural Awakening” photo book are available for purchase at Full Circle Bookstore at 1900 Northwest Expy., Oklahoma City. It can also be ordered from choctawstore.com or by calling 888.932.9199.

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